A parade and fireworks: no better way to celebrate the Fourth of July as a community

“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

Also, you can’t predict the weather.

Most of the day yesterday, it seemed like Riverhead’s eagerly anticipated fireworks show on Peconic Bay would get by without disruption from the weather. The forecast had been calling for a 40% chance of rain later in the evening. Then as the day went on, the chance of rain increased and the start time got earlier. The storm system heading our way from Connecticut intensified and picked up speed . By 4 o’clock we had a severe thunderstorm watch.

But there was still some hope that the weather would hold off long enough to get the show done. It sorta did, but just as the fireworks ended, Mother Nature put on a show of her own. The skies opened up and all hell broke loose.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but our police, firefighters and EMS ran their tails off rescuing people and the highway department was working all night to clear local roads from fallen trees and limbs.

Hats off to these public servants. Their efforts last night are just one more example of how they put their own safety at risk and their own lives on the line to take care of their neighbors.

Props also go to the people who worked so hard to make the America 250 celebrations yesterday successful, despite the challenges dished out by Mother Nature yesterday. The parade was terrific and residents turned out for it and enjoyed it, even though the heat and humidity were brutal.

The parade and the fireworks were two massive undertakings — and all on one day. The efforts put into it by organizers paid off and are appreciated.

It’s nice for Riverhead to have a Fourth of July parade. Personally, I hope this event can take place every year. A parade is one of those things that brings the community together, an event that makes (almost) everyone smile, and reminds us that, in many ways, Riverhead is still a small town.